Dr. Johnny Hong said her situation was so dire, she immediately shot to the top of the transplant list.

"Typically, if they don't get a transplant within a week or two, their risk of death is close to 100 percent," he said.

Remarkably, a match was found after just 10 days.

"I am so thankful," she said. "There just aren't organs to go around."

18 months after her brush with death, Concannon said life is back to normal, and she has big plans to help make sure organs are available for others in need. She and her family are now advocates for the "Donate Life" organ donation campaign.